Back by Popular Demand: Kickin’ it With Cops

Many events have found themselves cut from the annual schedule following the unusual circumstances that COVID-19 has placed on society over the last two years. That said, some traditions just aren’t going anywhere if the people behind them have anything to say about it, and Southern’s annual Kickin’ It With the Cops is one such tradition.
Taking into account the seemingly constant atmosphere of anxiety that many black people, especially young black college students, feel towards law enforcement, Kickin’ It With the Cops is campus law enforcement’s attempt to bridge that gap and gain a more personable relationship with the student body.
“I think it’ll be a good thing. People have to understand that not all police are people. Most of the officers on campus are cool, students just tend to do the most sometimes,” said Jahmal Levy, a junior accounting major from Dallas, Texas. As Levy alluded to, this perception of police officers is understood, but there have been some cases where students just don’t meet officers halfway, whether this be routine ID checks or other similar trivialities.
The last time Kickin’ it with Cops took place was pre-pandemic April 2019. The purpose of the event is to create, develop and grow long-lasting relationships between the Southern University Police Department and the Southern University community. “I don’t want to just see the students when something bad happens, but at other times as well,” said S.U.P.D.Community Policing Commander and Sergeant Regina Williams.
As Officer Williams noted, having the students knowing them outside of negative situations could play a large role in repairing the divide that exists within police relations with not just SU students, but black people in general. In this specific way, this model can hopefully be replicated by other police departments around the state and country as law enforcement nationwide seek to build better relations with the people that they are charged to protect.
Originally the event was created by S.U.P.D. police chief Joycelyn Johnson during her time as Community Policing Commander. Williams took over Kickin’ It With Cops in 2017. Since taking over, there have been influential changes made to the event. When she took over, the event started off with 20 Little Caesars pizza.
Williams decided that there was more that could be done and was granted the opportunity to do more. More included donations from community businesses which includes food and other items students have need of and also items they would like.
With past guests, Cheeky Black, Hot Boy Ronald and Choppa, students never know who the guest will be, just that there will be a special musical guest. Kickin’ It With Cops is set to return on April 27, 2022 at 6PM at the Southern University Campus in the Shade/Totty Circle.